Willie or "Uncle Billy" Maltby

Birth: He was born around 1854 in England. He immigrated to the U.S. in 1870 and had been naturalized by 1930.  

Family Information: Husband of Sarah Maltby.  

Description: In 1934 he was blind and house bound, but often sat on his front porch, "swinging and singing like a canary."  

Pre-Colony History: At some point he had lived at Zion City, Illinois and sung in the choir of John Alexander Dowie (a faith healer who promised a utopian dwelling for all who sought shelter there.) Another colonist, David Goeke had been a chorister with him and in 1934 they still chummed along very well together.

Around 1928 the Maltby's became convinced they would enjoy the colony's social life and could perhaps produce more poultry for the colonists than in the old-fashioned way of "everyone for himself." So he crated up his flocks and packed up his household goods in preparation for the move. Mrs. Maltby was in the yard when she discovered their house was on fire. The blaze was so quick that nothing inside the house could be saved so they started to Llano with far less than they should have had. However you never heard a wail of complaint from them.  

Home in Colony:

Job in Colony: Foreman of one of the chicken ranches.  

Other Info:  

Post-Colony History:  

Death:  

Sources: "Vernon Parish Democrat": February 7, 1929; "Llano Colonist": June 30, 1934; US Census: 1930